Graduated envelope or flexible container



June 16, 1931; M. 1.. WILSON GRADUATED ENVELOPE OR FLEXI BLE CONTAINER Filed May '24, 1930 lTN ESSES ATTORNEY Patented June 16, 1931 v MURRAY LANE WILSON, OF SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA GRADUATED ENVELOPE OR FLEXIBLE CONTAINER Application filed May 24,. 1930. Serial No. 455,385.

This invention relates to improvements in envelopes, more especially of the type intended to be used for containing seeds and similar commodities, and it consists of the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a flexible and foldable container which, by virtue of certain regularly spaced-graduations printed thereon or otherwise applied thereto, serves the concurrent purposes of a measure for the commodity and an envelope to contain it.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container intended to be used by seed dealers, but obviously usable by dealers of other similar commodities, the use of which will tend not only to speed up sales of small quantities but will also increasethe profits of the dealer through the avoidance of waste.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an opaquepaper type of the invention, the container being shown as it will appear when held open in readiness to receive seed or a similar commodity.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the envelope, showing how it will appear before being opened.

Figure 3 is a. plan View of the paper blank from which the envelope is formed, particularly illustrating the arrangement of graduations on the inside.

Figure 4 is an elevation of a translucentpaper type of the envelope.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the envelope in Fig. 4, showing how the arcuate grad nation assume straight or horizontal positions when the envelope is opened.

Figure 6 is an elevation of an envelope showing a slightly difierent arrangement of graduations.

The herein disclosed envelope is adapted particularly well to the packing of small amounts of seeds, and although this use is herein cited as an illustration it is by no means to be regarded as a limitation because the envelope is capable of being emtainer is to relieve dealers, especially small dealers perhaps just setting up a business,

from the necessity of purchasing at scales capable of weighing small fractions of a pound of expensive seed. It is further intended to expedite sales by dealers both small and large by virtue .of enabling the instant measuring of a desired quantity of seed at the bin and the immediate packing of said quantity in readiness to hand to'the purchaser.

All this and other advantageous features will be fully understood after considering the drawings. The envelope 1 is made in triangular form (Figs. 2, 4 and 6) out of opaque or translucent material originally out like the. blank in Fig 3. This blank comprises a main body 2 which is divided into sides 3, 4 by a division or crease line 5.

The sides themselves have the triangular shape mentioned in connection with Figures 2, 4 and 6. The free edges of one of the sides has -flaps 6, 7, both of which are gummed as indicated at 8 in the instance of the flap 6. This flap is a closure flap, and its purpose is to seal the envelope when the desired quantity of seed has been packaged. The flap 7 is secured t-o'the corresponding edge portion of the side 3 (Fig. 2) when the blank is creased along the lines 5 and 9 in its final form.

Maj or, arcuate graduations 10 radiate from the apex 11 of the blank 2. These graduations extend over the sides 3, 4. I They are traversed by medial lines 12, '13 which extend along the axis of the triangular sides 3, 4. These lines are the terminals of intermediate graduations 14, and at places immediately beyond the intermediate graduations numbers 15 beginning with l and running as high as may be desired are applied.

The major graduations 10'may appearin terms of inches or they'may be applied according to the metric system. The intermediate graduations may be any desired fractions of the distance between the major gradnations, the sole purpose beingto provide lines of demarcation up to where the container to be filled with the desired volume of see ' For this purpose the graduations are struck on arcs with a definiteend in view. When the envelope 1 is opened by pressing in on the creased sides it assumes a reasonably perfeet conical shape. In this respect the envelope or container is to be regarded as flexible. The graduations 10, 14 instead of then being-arcuate assume straight or horizontal positions cross-Wise of the container as indicated in Figure 5.

By saying that the graduations assume horizontal positions it is meant that when the container is held in the vertical position the graduations extend straight across. In other words, the graduations become substantially perpendicular to the axis of the container when the latter is opened in a seedreceiving position.

Down to this point the description embraces all of the elements of the container. Three modifications are involved but in each of these, with similar reference characters to avoid a needless repetition of description. Consider now the three modifications.

In Figure 1 the paper or other material from which the envelope is made is opaque. This bein the case the major and intermediate' gra nations 10, 14 are so applied to the blank 2 (Fig. 3) that they will appear on the inside of the container as is well shown in Fig. 1. The graduations. are not visibie, excepting very faintl when holding the envelope u to the light, ut when the envelope is opene by pressing it on the creased sides and causing it to assume the conical shape all of the graduations are clearly visible so that the clerk can tell just how far to fill the container in selling the desired quantity of seed.

In the instance-of Fig. 1 the major graduations 10 extend completely around the inside of the envelope. This makes it easier for the accurate measure.

clerk to dispense an accurate measure of seed. The minor graduations 14 extend only part-way around, the proximity of the major graduations assisting him in leveling the commodity.

Figure 4 illustrates a translucent type of envelope. The paper or other material of which it is made is semitransparent. The are- 14 are applied externally of the envelope and only on one side although they might be applied to both sides if desired. pon opening the envelope in the manner already described the graduations will assume the horizontal position, and by watching the shadow of the seeds as the pouring-in operation proceeds the clerkwill be able to make a very corresponding parts are identified Figure also discloses -a' translucent type of envelope in line 12 and in which the arcuate graduations are substituted by smaller numbered graduations which merely serve as guidesin the filling of the container. By holding the container in a perfectly upright position and carefully pouring theseeds in until the shadow reaches the desired mark quite an accurate measure can be made: "Ot' course-the style of graduations-in the otherforms has many advantages over the arrangement in Fig. 6, but the illustration in the latter is given merely to show what variations-can be utilized within the spirit of the invention.

The operation is readily understood, and in this description it will be pointed out how the envelope is intended to be used in connection with certain placards that will be attached to the seed bins. It is to be emphasized that the envelope is graduated to a standard, that is to say the major and intermediate raduations 10, 14: are equidistant.

First 0 all it is necessary to prepare a seed chart that will be sent to the dealer. The chart is prepared by weighing on an accurate scales, small amount-s of the various seeds intended to be handled, pouring these amounts into one of the envelopes and making a record of the level of the seed.

For example, a given quantity of dwarf nastu'rtium seed such as would sell for 10 would fill the envelope up to graduation 7. That quantity which would sell for 15 would fill the envelope up to 8 All of the seeds are charted in the same way and a portion of the chart would appear thus:

- for the various seeds.

Carrot, oxheart 6% 8 9% Radish, red globe. 5 6 7 9 Sweet peas 5' 6 Dwarf nasturtlum 7 8% Pepper, cayenne 3 4 5% 8 From this chart it is intended to prepare placards to be attached to the various bins of which the following are several examples:

These specimens of placards give the prices The larger amounts are intended to be weighed on the customary scales, b it the small amounts are intended to be measured immediatel at the bin by means of the envelopes thus 0 viating the need of weighing. In order to difierentiate between the larger and smaller quantities of seeds the scales prices, that is to say the prices of the larger amounts of seeds to beweighed up on the scales, will be printed in black while the measure. prices, namely those of the smaller amounts intended to be dispensed solely by means of the envelope will be printed in re From this it will be understood that the which there is only one mediallac . bags provide 'for the purpose. In se g a up ver rather arge quantities and afurther advansmall amount of seed the clerkhas [only to go to the desired bin, pour seed into the opened envelope until a mark is reached agreein with that given opposite the rice onthec art, seal the flap 6down and ban the packettothe customer.

Here is an im ortant filling over the bin, and should the clerk s ill any of the seed it would not fall to the cor and advantage. The

thus be wasted. By the customary scales method seed are spilled from the scoop when making the transfer from the bin and also ations on the interior of the container ar-' ranged in such a way as to indicate .difierent I specific uantities of the commodity to be package therein.

2. A package comprising a container made i of opaque paper, said container being provided with sealing means and with graduations on the interior of the container arranged in such a way as to indicate difierent specific quantities of thecommodity to be acka d therein said graduations being inerent y arcuate'but assumin substantially perpendicular positions relative to theiaxis of the container when said container is opened in a commodit -receivin position. I M; LLN VfiISON. I

of the enve ope will be done directly when pouring the seed from the scales pan into the bag or envelope.

A further advantage is that small scales, namely those used in weighing ver small amounts can be dispensed with entire y. The envelopes-willbe packed flat like any other envelopes and assume the character of measurers only when opened to the seed-position pictured in Fi 1 and 5. The combined measuring'enveiipe and seed container takes little room even when stocked in tage'is that a measure for small quantities of seed is always available as long as a sup-- ply of the envelopes remains on hand.

t is reiterated that the use of the envelope as a 'meaure and container for seed is merely one illustration. Commodities other than seed, 'whether dry, semi-liquid or li uid can be measured and contained as wel This leads to a variation in the form oi the envelope. which is notnecessarily confined to the initial triangular shape (Figs. 2,4 and 6) and later conical, receivin shape'(Figs. l and 5). It is conceivable t at the container might be made to assume a cylindrical shape or perhaps a rectangular shape. In any event, the purpose is to provide an initially collapsed container with measuring marks by whi when opened the filling therewith of a commodity W111 be guided.

While the construction and arrangement A of the improved envelope or container is mmodifications. and changes may that. of a generally preferred form, obvious bemade.

without departing from the spirit of'th e invention or the scope of the claims.

whatIclaimisz 1.; package comprising a container made of o aque paper, said container being provid with sealing means and with graduion 

